Patient's question:
I am 22 years old this year. A few days ago, I had an abortion with anesthesia. Before the surgery, it was found that I had a cyst on the right ovary. One week before the surgery, I often experienced dull pain on the right lower abdomen in intermittent waves. After the surgery, which has been a week so far, the pain on the right lower abdomen still occurs frequently. I don't know if it is related to the ovarian cyst. The doctor once prescribed roxithromycin for me, and I have been taking it. Since this is my first pregnancy, I am very afraid of adverse consequences. Is the intermittent pain in my lower abdomen normal? What other medication should I take? Will there be serious consequences?Doctor's answer:
Some women may experience lower abdominal pain after an abortion under anesthesia. The symptoms are usually not very obvious and are considered normal. However, if the pain in the lower left abdomen persists for a long time, it requires attention. Additionally, bleeding after an abortion under anesthesia typically lasts for 3 to 5 days. As the uterus contracts and the wound heals, vaginal bleeding gradually stops, usually not exceeding 10 days. Common reasons for lower abdominal pain after an abortion include the following:1. Postoperative infection: Infections after an abortion under anesthesia often occur within 2 weeks of the procedure. They may be caused directly by the surgical operation or by poor hygiene after the surgery, such as sexual activity or swimming. This usually leads to acute pelvic inflammatory disease, characterized by severe abdominal pain, prolonged duration, and symptoms such as fever, chills, vaginal bleeding, or yellowish discharge.
2. Uterine perforation: This is a serious complication that can occur during an abortion under anesthesia. When perforation occurs, patients often experience sudden, severe abdominal pain. The pain caused by uterine perforation is persistent, accompanied by slight vaginal bleeding. If internal bleeding is present, it may cause peritoneal irritation.
3. Incomplete abortion: Abortions can sometimes fail, though this is rare. This usually happens when the surgical procedure does not completely remove all the fetal tissue and (decidua) from the uterine cavity. After the surgery, the uterus may contract rhythmically to expel the remaining fetal tissue.
4. Uterine hematoma: This often occurs within a few hours after the procedure. Patients may experience severe abdominal pain, similar to a knife cut, with a small amount of blood-tinged fluid leaking from the vagina. A gynecological examination may reveal significant uterine enlargement, softness, and tenderness. In this case, immediate dilation and curettage (D&C) is necessary to remove the hematoma from the uterine cavity, followed by treatment with oxytocin and antibiotics.